May 2011
What a privilege it is to bring forth another monthly view from a Biblical perspective. This perspective may be a whole new reality for you, but as you humble yourself, a new identity will spring forth, causing new boundaries to be set in your life. "The Word is a lamp to your feet, and a light to your path."1
Restorative Promise
When I reflect on the early years of my life, I have many regrets. I did things that bring deep remorse, and I regret things I didn't do. If you think and feel the same way, I have some good news for you. God promises to restore all those years, so you can live above all those regrets with victory and vision. Listen to God's promise to you spoken through the prophet Joel:
"I will restore to you the years the swarming locusts have eaten...you shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the LORD your God. Then you will know that I am in the midst of Israel."2
I hear you say, "That promise is to Israel, not me!" As you read on, you'll see that God promises the same restoration for you. He desires to restore every place in your life that has been broken or made barren by sin, and to make you righteous in Christ. The prophet Joel continues to speak God's promise, saying:
"And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions, and also on My men servants and on My maid servantsI will pour out My Spirit in those days."3
Restorative Power
The days that Joel spoke about happened 2,000 years ago on the day of Pentecost [from the Greek word for "fifty."] After his resurrection, Jesus spoke to His disciples about the soon fulfillment of the Promise given through the prophet Joel, saying:
"Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued [clothed] with power from on high."4
If God can clothe me with power from on high, He can do the same for you. You don't have to wait, because Joel's prophecy was fulfilled fifty days after the resurrection of Jesus, Luke records:
"...there came a sound from heaven, as a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance."5
The same filling with the Holy Spirit is available for you to receive today. Peter confirmed Joel's prophesy to pour out God's Spirit on all flesh, saying:
"For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel."6
Today, if you claim by faith the blood of Jesus Christ for cleansing of your sin, and "...if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved."7 That means the Holy Spirit will fill your heart and birth new life, "...according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ, our Savior..."8
Restorative Purpose
When the Holy Spirit fills your heart, God not only restores the years that have been made barren by sin, but He births new purpose for your life. The apostle Paul writes:
"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren."9
God has a purpose for your life "...to be conformed to the image of His Son." As you build your faith from God's work, the Holy Spirit will renew your mind and cause God's image to shine forth from you.
"For it is The God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."10
Restorative Joy
As the glory of God reflects from your life, a new joy will come forth from the presence of the Lord. The Psalmist David sang:
"You will show me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore."11
As a believer, you are sitting spiritually at God's right hand of blessings. Listen to this good news from God's word:
"...when He [God] raised Him [Jesus] from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places."12 [He also] "...raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come, He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness towards us in Christ Jesus."13
We are in Spiritual union with Christ. When He died on the cross, you died and when He rose from the dead, you rose. Now at God's right hand, there are pleasures forevermore and fullness of joy. I'll leave you with one of my favorite Scriptures.
"Rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."14
A Prayer for you...
Heavenly Father, I yield myself to you for the restoration of my soul. I commit to not be conformed to this world, but transformed by the renewing of my mind, that I may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. I want to be renewed in the Spirit of my mind and to put on the new man which is created according to God in true righteousness and holiness. Now, may the God of hope fill me with all joy and peace in believing, that I may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. In Jesus name, Amen. 15
If you don't have a Bible, I'd suggest a "New Living Translation (NLT) for easy understanding of the following Scripture References:
1 Psa. 119:105
2 Joel 2:25a, 26a, 27a
3 Joel 2:28, 29
4 Luke 24:49
5 Acts 2:1-4
6 Acts 2:15, 16
7 Rom. 10:9
8 Titus 3:5,6
9 Rom. 8:28, 29
10 2 Cor. 4:6
11 Psa. 16:11
12 Eph. 1:20
13 Eph. 2:6,7
14 Phil. 4:4-7
15 Rom. 12:2; Eph. 4:23, 24; Rom. 15:13
Acknowledgement: A special thanks to Sherry for transcribing this months view!